Harassment from housemate

[Comefromaway]

Dd lives in an HMO. Two of her housemates are lovely, the third has been an absolute nightmare for months. I don’t want to speculate but he us either suffering mental health issues or drugs are involved.

Dd and her housemates feel unsafe and have suffered months of threats, abuse, had their rooms trashed and even being locked out of their house at midnight. Finally the police have taken it seriously after being called out 3 times in the past few weeks and given video evidence and have arrested him. He is being charged with harassment.

So what happens now? The contract is joint and several, Dd formulated a short term escape plan which was to stay with a friend for a week. Fixed term tenancy ends in two months & landlord has served notice as he wants the house for a family member. Problem housemate has caused damage trying to break down DD’s bedroom door. Dd & 1 housemate are low paid on housing benefit, 3rd housemate is student. (In her final year which is the last thing she needs at the moment). Can they stop him coming back to the house when he is released?

The agent is asking the landlord if they can break the contract early but all have to agree including problem housemate. Dd is not happy that the locks on the bedroom doors all have the same key. Landlord is abroad so has not responded yet.

I would have thought the lease allows for termination due to threatening or criminal behaviour.

Not as far as I can see. (I’m guarantor)

You can change the locks so long as you give a copy of the key to the landlord/agent.

Get in touch with Shelter they will be able to give legally correct advice on what your options are.

There is pretty much nothing that can be done tenancy wise. We are wondering if an injunction can be taken out but the situation seems to lie in between the housemate being an associated person and applying for a harassment injunction (can he be prevented from returning to his own home as that might be seen as unreasonable)

If he's charged, is there any chance the police could impose bail conditions preventing him from returning to the property until his court case is heard?

Released tonight pending investigation

I'd just get her out of there into a travel lodge if needs be I'd literally just leave, pay my rent up and go for my own sanity and safety

They’ve all found friends willing to put them up for a few nights.

Travelodge is £90 per night at the moment.

She’s been to view another flat and they said they’d let her know today but she’s had no message yet

I was hoping he’d be charged and that would be the case

There have been developments. Can't say too much due to police investigation but the tenancy is being ended today. So dd is technically homeless I guess.

I'm guessing she needs to contact whoever deals with Universal Credit/housing benefit.

If the tenancy is ending can the three not stay and find another tenant?

It's ending in July anyway. Doing it this way (majority vote to voluntarily end tenancy) was the only way to both get him out and mean no financial penalty for the others as serving section whatever would take too long.

She needs to urgently get looking on spare room.com or similar. Is this London? It must have been a complete nightmare. I don’t see what universal credit and housing benefit has got to do with it? Unless she’s on benefits? If she’s working, can’t she get another room or come home for a bit?

She was recently awarded the housing part of universal credit which she now wont be entitled to as her tenancy has ended. I'm guessing it will be a change of circumstances.(until she gets a new tenancy)

Yes its London. She is on Spare Room and also a couple of other groups specific to housing for people in the industry she works in.

'Home' is 180 miles away.

Ok so the tenancy has ended 👏

Suggest to landlord a new tenancy for the 3 sane people, just until July?

She has a safe place at a friend's house on the sofa for a week and another friend has said that her housemate is looking to sub-let for a few weeks. So she is OK short term.